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2022 Best Value IS Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k

18 Ranked Colleges
819 Degrees Awarded
$13,500 Avg Net Price*
Best Value IS Schools for a Bachelor's in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value IS Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking.

In 2019-2020, 18,368 people earned their degree in information science, making the major the 56th most popular in the United States. In 2017-2018, information science graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $58,848 and had an average of $32,600 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Great Lakes region, there were 2,416 information science graduates with average earnings and debt of $54,956 and $25,584 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 819 information science graduates with average earnings and debt of $39,075 and $25,381 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value IS Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, we looked at 18 colleges that offer a degree in information science. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great information science programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the information science program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

One Size Does Not Fit All

The is school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value IS Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k”.

To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.

Best Value IS Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k

The colleges and universities below are the best for great lakes region bachelor’s degree is students whose families make $0-$30k.

Top 18 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Information Science (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region

#1

Northwestern University

Evanston, Illinois

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Northwestern University. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value IS Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Northwestern is located in Evanston, Illinois and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 50 bachelors’s IS degrees to qualified students.

Northwestern did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best Information Science Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Northwestern University is $1,866 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree IS students whose families make $0-$30k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%. The student loan default rate at the school is 0.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read more about Information Science at Northwestern

Out of the 18 schools in the Best Value IS Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor landed the #2 spot on the list. U-M is located in Ann Arbor, Michigan and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 167 bachelors’s IS degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our great lakes region bachelor’s degree is students whose families make $0-$30k list, U-M has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best Information Science Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $3,166 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree is students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend U-M.

With a freshman retention rate of 96%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The low student loan default rate of 1.2% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Information Science at University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

#3

Grand Valley State University

Allendale, Michigan

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Grand Valley State University. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value IS Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k. GVSU is located in Allendale, Michigan and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 56 bachelors’s IS degrees to qualified students.

GVSU also made our “Best Information Science Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #4. It costs about $11,578 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree is students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend GVSU.

The low student loan default rate of 3.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Information Science at Grand Valley State University

Out of the 18 schools in the Best Value IS Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Illinois at Chicago landed the #4 spot on the list. University of Illinois at Chicago is located in Chicago, Illinois and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 116 bachelors’s IS degrees to qualified students.

UIC also made our “Best Information Science Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #3. The estimated yearly cost for University of Illinois at Chicago is $10,648 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree is students whose families make $0-$30k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Information Science at University of Illinois at Chicago

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Wisconsin - Green Bay. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value IS Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Green Bay, Wisconsin is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s IS degrees to 11 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UW - Green Bay, the school also landed the #12 spot in our “Best Information Science Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Wisconsin - Green Bay is $11,337 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree IS students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full UW - Green Bay Information Science Report

University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value IS Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee is a public institution located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The school has a large population, and it awarded 182 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UWM did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 on our “Best Information Science Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend UWM is $13,222 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree IS students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Information Science at UWM

University of Michigan - Flint ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value IS Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This medium-sized school is located in Flint, Michigan, and it awarded 10 bachelors’s IS degrees in 2019-2020.

UM Flint did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #17 on our “Best Information Science Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for UM Flint is $7,955 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree is students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Information Science at University of Michigan - Flint

#8

Saint Xavier University

Chicago, Illinois
#18 in overall quality

Saint Xavier University came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value IS Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Saint Xavier University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded 3 bachelors’s IS degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at SXU, the school also landed the #18 spot in our “Best Information Science Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $11,266 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree is students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend SXU.

Read more about Information Science at SXU

#9

Northwood University

Midland, Michigan
#5 in overall quality

Northwood University landed the #9 spot on the 2022 Best Value IS Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Northwood University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Midland, Michigan. The school has a small population, and it awarded 16 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Northwood did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our “Best Information Science Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Northwood University is $14,573 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree IS students whose families make $0-$30k.

The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Full Northwood University Information Science Report

Bowling Green State University - Main Campus ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value IS Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Bowling Green, Ohio, this fairly large public school awarded 28 degrees to qualified bachelors’s IS students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at BGSU, the school also landed the #10 spot in our “Best Information Science Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Bowling Green State University - Main Campus is $14,521 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree IS students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full BGSU Information Science Report

#11

Cleveland State University

Cleveland, Ohio
#15 in overall quality

Cleveland State University landed the #11 spot on the 2022 Best Value IS Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Cleveland, Ohio is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s IS degrees to 44 students in 2019-2020.

Cleveland State University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #15 on our “Best Information Science Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Cleveland State University is $14,213 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree IS students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Information Science at Cleveland State University

#12

University of Toledo

Toledo, Ohio

University of Toledo came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value IS Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. University of Toledo is located in Toledo, Ohio and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 50 bachelors’s IS degrees to qualified students.

University of Toledo also made our “Best Information Science Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #13. The estimated yearly cost for University of Toledo is $14,516 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree IS students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full University of Toledo Information Science Report

#13

Bradley University

Peoria, Illinois
#6 in overall quality

Bradley University landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Value IS Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Bradley University is a medium-sized school located in Peoria, Illinois that handed out 17 bachelors’s IS degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region bachelor’s degree is students whose families make $0-$30k list, Bradley has also earned the #6 rank in our “Best Information Science Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Bradley is $17,205 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree is students whose families make $0-$30k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Bradley Information Science Report

#14

Elmhurst University

Elmhurst, Illinois
#11 in overall quality

With a ranking of #14, Elmhurst University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value IS Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Elmhurst is a small school located in Elmhurst, Illinois that handed out 9 bachelors’s IS degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region bachelor’s degree is students whose families make $0-$30k list, Elmhurst has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best Information Science Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Elmhurst is $16,903 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree IS students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low student loan default rate of 3.0% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Information Science at Elmhurst

With a ranking of #15, University of Akron Main Campus did quite well on the 2022 Best Value IS Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of Akron Main Campus is a public institution located in Akron, Ohio. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 12 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

University of Akron Main Campus not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #16 on our “Best Information Science Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Akron Main Campus is $14,816 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree is students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Information Science at University of Akron Main Campus

#16

McKendree University

Lebanon, Illinois
#14 in overall quality

McKendree University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value IS Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #16. McKendree University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Lebanon, Illinois. It awarded 6 bachelors’s IS degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at McKendree, the school also landed the #14 spot in our “Best Information Science Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $15,184 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree is students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend McKendree University.

Full McKendree Information Science Report

#17

Carthage College

Kenosha, Wisconsin
#8 in overall quality

Carthage College landed the #17 spot on the 2022 Best Value IS Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This small school is located in Kenosha, Wisconsin, and it awarded 1 bachelors’s IS degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Carthage, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best Information Science Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Carthage is $24,480 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree is students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Information Science at Carthage College

#18

DePaul University

Chicago, Illinois

With a ranking of #18, DePaul University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value IS Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Chicago, Illinois, this large private not-for-profit school awarded 15 degrees to qualified bachelors’s IS students in 2019-2020.

DePaul also made our “Best Information Science Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #9. It costs about $26,173 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree IS students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend DePaul.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Information Science at DePaul

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Notes and References

References

  • The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
  • Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

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